Crossing gate or barrier



May 22, 192s. 1,671,045

W. NORRIS CROSSING GATE OR BARRIER WITNESS: ATTORNEY May 22, 1928.

W. NORRIS CROSSING GATE OR BARRIER Filed March 26, 1926 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESS:

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lNvsNoR ATTORNEY n I 117,1 mam Worm ATTORNEY EQMYA.

WITNESS:

Patented May 22, 1928.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM 'NoRRIs or KENOSHA, WISCONSIN.

CROSSING GATE 'on BARRIER.

Application filed March 2e, l192s. serial No'. 97,683.

v"The object ot this invention is to provide a barrier at the point where a highway crosses a railroad, the barrier being automatically controlled by an electric motor or -1'notors, the circuits of which are connected with the rails of 'individual and insulated blocks in' the track.

y'A further object is to effect the result specified by employing a gate or barrier nlovable into a'chai'nber beneath the crossing 'when the track -is clea'r, and movable upwardly to operative position when an approaching train has reached ay predetern'ii'ied position with reference to the cross- -l'll i Y further object is ltoy provide controlling mechanism including amo'tor, cable winding means, and a gravity operated element, the Ypo'sitior'i of the latter controlling the posi- ,off clutches for placing the cable winding Ameans in operative relation to the motor by which they are driven. Y

v With the foregoing and other objects in y"View, the invention consists v`in the novel constructi'oi'i and arrangement of elements described, illustrated and claimed, it being understood that modifications may be made within the scopeI of the claims wit-hout departing from the spirit of the invention.

In thfe` drawings forming part of this application, v

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view ofthe vcircuits connected with the rails of the tracks',y and connectedi'vith `-inotors for the cable winding' meansfdescribed below. e

Figure 2 is a view in elevation and ver'- tical section, the gate or barrier being shown below the crossing, and permitting' traine vover the highway.

Figure 3k is a. View similar to Figure 2, but showing'the gate or barrier raised to o erative' positiomin order to prevent vehicles from passing along the highway over th'c railway tracks.

Figure 4 is a detail view in section and elevation, showing a housing beneath the levell ofthe' roadway, into which the gate is movable, this housing being' closed by a cover plate, pivoted at one side or edge portion, and automatically movable, incident to the movemento'f the operative elements,tov

the position ot'V Figure 5. y

A(Ifl'gilre is a view similar' to Figure 4:, s'liowinfg the cover' plate in open position.

y The Abarrier comprises Upper and lower .Gables .10 .and 12, Cmlbfed by vertical me# tzil'lic "bars, Asuch :is 13, the end bars 13 having connection withsprings, such as 14, and thc llatter having connection with vertically niova'ble elements, or blocks 15 slidable on vertical rods or guides 1G. The barrier thus formed provides a shock absorbing structure,- tending to avoid injury to a vehicle which may accidentally come into engagementr therewith, it being understood that the coiled springs 14 a're of su'liicient strength to obstruct the passing of the vehicle onto the tracks.

Beneath -the ylevel of the roadway is a housing` 18 adapted to receive the gate or barrier when the passage of vehicles over the railway tracks is to be permitted. This housing 18 is closed by a plate or cover designated 20, and hinged at 21, the plate being slottedY as shown at 22, so that it will clear the elements referred to below.`

. The blocks 15 have connected therewith "rack 'members 24 adapted to mesh with seg- ,movement of the gate, when' tension is apvplied: tothe lifting cables, the racksv 24 and 25 will eiigage and lift the plate or cover 20,

and permit blocks 15I to move to the position 'oft Figure 3. c

The' gate is `elevated by means of cables 27 and 28, and is movable between posts 29 and 30, the latter being hollowr for permitting the vertical' movement of weight 31 'in the box-like structilreincluding the vertical walls of the member 30.

Cable 27 passes over a pulley 27 mounted ina bracket on post 29, and' passes thence over a nl'ley32 and downwardly to plate 33 with w ich it is connected, this plate having connection by cable 34 with weight 31. Cable 28 passes over-"pulleys 32" and has conncction'4 withplate 33 at the point indicated., so that the position of weight 3l dctermines the position of the gate, and the weight is ofsuflicient size to raise the gate whenv permitted to do so.

,n In order to elevate weightl and produce slack in cables 27 and 28. so that thegate may move downwardly, l, provide acablb 35 passing over pulleys such as 36 and' passing downwardly to awinding drum 37 adaptedto -be rotatedthru the medium of clutch elements 38 and 39' and the Shaftr 40 of electric' motor 41. The circuits forI this motorare shown in Figure l, and will be de, 'scribed below.

`train with reference to the blocks.

In the lower position of weight 31, the gate being in elevated position, the clutch elements 38 and 39 are in engagement, having been thrown by the lever 36. When the drum 37 elevates weight 31 through cable 35, and when the weight is in its upper position, the upper part ot arm 36 is engaged, and clutch elements 43 and 44 are-caused to engage, one of these elements being rigid with sha'tt'45 ot motor 46. A pivoted latch 48 is controlled in` part by spring 49, and engages the weight, from theI under side thereof, when said weight is in the position of Figures 1 and 2, so that the weight is retained, until released by the completion of a circuit thru motor 46. the shaft of which carries a gear wheel 50 meshing withl gear wheel 51 on the shaft oit a drum 52 adapted to wind a cable 53, by means of which the latch 48, connected with the cable, may be released from engaging position with reference to the weight. In this movement the spring 49 is compressed.

.It will therefore be observed that the clutches controlled by arm or lever 36 operate in reverse relation, and are engaged or disengaged according to the position of weight 31, the latter being down when the gate is up and in position for blocking or obstructing the crossing.

In Figure 1, I have shown diagrammatically a track, or plurality ot tracks divided into blocks designated 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65. "he circuits for the motors 46 and 41 are completed according to the position of the The train opens or closes the gate as `the Case may be, when in the end blocks, as the arrangement appears in Figure 1, and when in either of blocks 61 or 64, there is no change in the position of the gate.

Assuming that the approach is from the right yin Figure 1, the train entering short block 62 will complete a circuit thru wire 66, wire 67, motor 46, wire 68, battery 70, wire 71 and wire 7 2. Motor 46, acting thru the mechanism described will release latch 48, and allow the weight 31 to fall and raise the gate from the position o'f Figure 2 to the lposition of Figure 3, where it constitutes a barrier.

As the weight 31 moves downwardly, the cutaway portion 31 permits the yend or curved part 36tL oit arm 36 to move to the lett, and the upper clutch is released at 43 and 44. Moreover, the downward movement ot element 31 engages the lower end, or produces engagement with the lower end of lever 36 and throws in clutch 38` 39. Arms 43 and 39 connect lever 36 with the clutch elements shown.

The train passing from block 62 to block 61, no further change in the position of the apparatus occurs, the gate remaining in the position ot Figure 3. It may be stated incidentally, that in moving to the position of Figure 3, the gate operated the devices 'ot Figures 4 and .5,and raised the cover plate 2() in the manner before described. The reverse operation of the elements of Figures 4 and 5, takes place -when the gate movesk downwardly.

TWhen the train enters block 60, motor 41- The circuits tor the other-track, and for blocks 63, 64, 65 are similar, and description thereo'ic in detail does not seem to be necessary, it being understood that the same mechanical operation results yafter motors l46 and 41 are energized, in the order here named, it being lassumed that the trainappreaches from the left in Figure 1, and that motor 46 .is first energized for releasing the weight 31', so that the gate moves to the position ot Figure 3, where it remains while the train is in block 64. When the train reaches block 65, motor 41 is energized, the clutch, 38, 39, havingbeen thrown inl when the weight 31 descended, so that the train having cleared the crossing, cable 35 is wound, and the weight 31Ai s elevated,y and the gate movesdownwardly to inoperative position. f n

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: i

1. In a device ofthe class described, a barrier, a counterbalance therefor, electrically operated devices for raising the counterbalance, permitting the barrier to move below the level ot a crossing, and electrically operated devices for releasing the counterbalance tor raising the barrierl when said counterbalance falls. a 2. In a device oi' the; class described, a barrier, a counterbalance therefor, electrically operated devices `lor raising the counterbalance, permitting the. barrier to move below the level of a crossing, and electrically operated devices orreleasing the counterbalance tor raising thebarrier when i said counterbalance falls, and mechanical means controlled by the position ot the counterbalance for rendering effective either of the electrically operated devices, to theeX- clusionl ofthe other, in controlling the position of the barrier.

3. In a device of the class described, a barrier, a counterbalance therefor, a plurality ot clutches, a lever for throwing in either clutch when the elements of the other clutch are disengaged, ythe counterbalance determining the position of the lever and CTI clutches. and cable Winding means controlled bv the respective clutches, and determining the position ot' the counterbalance.

et. In a device ot the class described, a barrier, a counterbalance therefor, a plurality ot' clutches, a. lever for throwing in either clutch when the elements of the otherL clutch are disengaged, the counter-balance determining the position of the lever and clutches, and cable Winding means controlled by the respective clutches, and determining the position of the counterbalancc, and electrically operated means 'for energizing the Winding means.

5. In a device of the class described, a

barrier, a counterbalance therefor, a. plurality of clutches, a lever for throwing in either clutch when the elements of the other clutch are disengaged. the counter balance deter-mining the position ot' the lever and clutches, and cable Winding means controlled by the respective clutches, and determining the position of the counterbalance, electrically operated means forenergizing the winding means, and a latch controlled by one element of the cable Winding means, and acting to retain the counterbalance in an elevated position.

In testimony whereof I affix mv signature.

WILLIAM NORRIS. 

